Annosue Blog: January 2016

Sunday, 31 January 2016

7 killed as boat capsizes in Lagos.

Seven persons were killed on Saturday when a passenger boat conveying 20 people capsized at Badore in Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos.

Ibrahim Farinloye, south-west spokesman of The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed the accident, saying it occurred around 10am. Farinloye said 13 passengers were rescued and responding to treatment at Ijede General Hospita.

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrahman Mohammed Biu, deputy detective superintendent, DDS, has been arrested for offences bordering on extortion, influence peddling and impersonation.

Sen. Stella Oduah On Friday in Abuja, described as “a misinterpretation”, media reports which quoted a Supreme Court judgment to have sacked her and other federal lawmakers from Anambra.

Reports in the media said that the apex court had ordered the replacement of Oduah and other federal lawmakers from the state saying that their nomination to contest in the 2015 election was wrong.

Barely one year to the end of the tenure of incumbent Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Ban Ki-moon, the contest to succeed him is already on.

The appointment of UN Secretaries-General is rotated according to regions and Eastern Europe has never produced the Secretary-General 71 years after its creation.

Two women from Bulgaria, an Eastern European country, have been favoured to be appointed at the end of Ki-moon’s second term in January 2017.

The inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as Kogi State governor without a deputy continues to raise dust.

Apparently, the last has not been heard about the governorship election and Wednesday’s inauguration of a new governor in Kogi State, but, for now, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has taken charge at Lugard House pending the outcome of the legal war that will determine the fate of all the contenders to the state number one seat.

Having won the presidential election of March 28, 2015, the indifference of President Muhammadu Buhari to, and the seeming manifest disdain he has shown to constitutional provisions regarding the composition of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, suggests that he no longer cares about the sanctity, neutrality and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will this week interrogate at least 16 military officers as part of its investigations into $2.1bn arms scandal.

It was learnt on Saturday that among those to be quizzed were the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.) and a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal MD Umar (retd.).

How Nigerian cult group traffics women into Europe – Spanish police

The Spanish police have raised the alarm about a Nigerian cult group, Supreme Eiye Confraternity, which is running a human trafficking racket and using British airports including Gatwick as entry points to traffic Nigerian women into Europe.

The Head of anti-trafficking at Catalonia police, Xavier Cortes, stated in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation that the Nigerian cult gang had been “using forged documents and passports to fly its Nigerian victims into places like Gatwick.”

THE new Ooni of Ife, 40 years old Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja 11, is a monarch after my own heart, if that statement would not be disrespectful of the Ife traditional institution. A young, highly successful entrepreneur-turned monarch, it was obvious at his inauguration that the loss to the business world would be Ife’s gain. Few months after his ascension to the throne of his fore fathers, he has not disappointed. Indeed, the way the monarch is going, age apart, he would soon be a fulcrum for traditional institutions in Nigeria. Surprisingly, his entrepreneurship skill and experience are being deployed to serve his people in Ife and also the Yorubaland. He has announced plans to make Ife a centre of tourism in the Southwest. To this end, he plans to build a N7.6billion Grand Resort in Ife. In realization of this, he has appointed Otunba Wanle Akinboboye as Chief Tourism Adviser and Consultant. Akinboboye is not strange to this environment. As founder of La Campaigne Tropicana and Motherland beckons, his resorts are world class and quite popular among the tourism crowd and those desirous of vacation without necessarily traveling out of the country. I know this because I have spent time in La Campaigne Tropicana. The Ooni is equally not strange to the hospitality and tourism resorts, having founded the Inagbe resort, though yet to visit this resort, I learnt it has first class facilities in a serene environment.

After 24 days in detention, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday night, fulfilled his bail conditions to regain temporary freedom.

A senior lawyer in his defence team, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) confirmed his release from detention.

The police in Lagos have arrested two undergraduates for allegedly raping a job-seeker, identified only as Nike, and robbing her of valuables in the Igando area of the state.

Our reporter learnt that the suspects, identified as Valentine and Kusimo, allegedly took turns to rape their victim after luring her into a hotel.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has inaugurated seven commuter buses to ease transportation problems of the people of Ile Ife and its environs.

Ogunwusi also launched a free health services scheme for the people of Ile Ife.

At last, former militant leader, Government Ekpumupolo (aka Tompolo) yesterday agreed to appear before a Federal High Court in Lagos which had ordered his arrest since January 14 this year. He said his lawyers are preparing for his appearance in court for alleged fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed different charges against Tompolo, including diversion of N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to personal use and laundering of N22.6 billion.

Former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the $2.1billion arms deals probe.

Amosu has been undergoing what a source described as “intense” interrogation in the last 17 hours, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The bank accounts of the ex-Air Chief may have been restricted. Besides, some houses believed to be his have been put under surveillance.

Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Babatunde Fowler, has redeployed 26 directors and introduced State Coordinator structure in the FIRS.

In the recent posting, the Director of FCT and North Central Region, Olufemi Faniyi, was posted to the Compliance Support Group, while Innocent Ohagwa, Director,

Britain’s top schools monitoring authority has instructed inspectors to mark down institutions where face covering veils such as hijab are hampering learning.

This comes days after Prime Minister, David Cameron, advocated the removal of face coverings at educational institutions.

Yahaya Bello is on excursion in Kogi Govt House, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described yesterday’s swearing-in of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as Kogi State Governor as a comical event, saying Bello is on excursion to the Kogi Government House.

A statement yesterday by the National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo,said Bello did not participate in the overall election to emerge governor.

LEGAL Icon, Mr. Femi Falana, has described as baseless and laughable, the response of former Minister of Finance and Co-ordinator of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to his application to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, ICC, to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed by serving and retired military officers and their civilian accomplices.

Transparency International has ranked Nigeria 136th among 168 least corrupt countries in the world, with a score of 26 per cent.

The ranking, which was for 2015, was released on Wednesday and showed that Nigeria dropped by one point in the TI index, which rated countries on a scale of zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be least corrupt). In 2014, the nation was also ranked 136th among 176 countries, but scored 27 per cent.

Kogi State on Wednesday made another unusual history as its fourth democratically elected governor, Yahaya Bello, was sworn in without a deputy.

The man nominated by the All Progressives Congress to be Mr. Bello’s deputy, James Faleke, made real his threat not to present himself for swearing in with the governor.

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday appointed some principal officers in his administration.

The governor, according to a statement from the Government House, approved the appointment of Mr. Onoja Edward David as Chief of Staff to the Governor.

Before his appointment, David, who hails from Ogugu in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State rose to management positions in several companies in financial as well as oil and gas sectors.

A 46-year-old woman, Victoria Alaegbu, has been accused of using charm on her fiancé, Prince Hillary Unachukwu and running away with his $1.5 million (N295.5 million).

Alaegbu was said to have administered a noxious chemical substance on Unachukwu last December in Ikoyi, Lagos. The substance knocked him out between 8pm and midnight and gave Alaegbu time to steal the money and lock Unachukwu inside the house.

Unachukwu woke up when the charm wore off and shouted for help.

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has lambasted members of both arms of the National Assembly, accusing them of greed, impunity and corruption.

Obasanjo, whose accusation was contained in a January 13,

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he cannot speak on the current $2.1bn arms scam now because the matter is in court.

A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, and others are currently standing trial for their alleged role in the scam.

AN expectant mother, Mrs Tosin Taiwo, is battling to save her unborn baby after allegedly suffering a womb rupture following her collapse in police custody on Tuesday.

Mrs Taiwo who claimed to have bled for two days in police cell, said she was rushed to Randle General Hospital in Surulere, where it took doctors two hours to revive her.

As the ongoing probe of $2.1billion arms deals continues, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday gave “ThisDay” publisher Prince Nduka Obaigbena a two-week ultimatum to refund N670million allegedly collected for unexecuted contracts.

Obaigbena told investigators that he never benefitted from slush funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The Supreme Court has upheld the outcome of the April 11, 2015 governorship election that brought Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to power.

The apex court in a unanimous judgment, restored the declaration of Wike as the valid winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Justice Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the lead verdict, held that three separate appeals filed by Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and INEC, were meritorious.

Sony Music Entertainment have signed accomplished musician Davido to a groundbreaking global agreement. The deal was inked at the Sony Music offices in New York and will see the American-born Nigerian recording artist release his highly anticipated sophomore album later this year.

Harvest of deaths in Rivers communities as suspected cultists kill 20

All is not well in the garden city of Port Harcourt as persons suspected to be cultists last week,(Wednesday) at Ula-Upata in the Ahoada East Local Government Area murdered about ten persons in cold blood.

Frank Alabi, a resident of the area narrated to the Vanguard Metro VM how the mindless killers operated that black Wednesday. According to him, he was sleeping in his room when

The Federal Government on Tuesday gave conditions for an out-of-court settlement with MTN Nigeria in respect of the N780bn fine imposed on the company by the Nigerian Communications Commission for having 5.2 million unregistered subscribers on its network.

A daughter of a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, is dead.

The lady, Mrs. Jackie Ifidon-Ola (nee Waziri), was said to have died at an Abuja hospital in the early hours of Sunday after she was rushed there for an undisclosed ailment.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief Sunday Adewusi, is dead. He would have been 80 years old this year.

Former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala confirmed his death yesterday night.

The publisher of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena may have surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over his alleged involvement in the arms deal scandal for interrogation.
He was allegedly received N500 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in the wake of last year general elections.

A rowdy court session yesterday stalled the trial of former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The development flowed from an allegation by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo to the effect that Ohakim’s son threatened the life of one of his witnesses.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday warned Nigerians to brace for a longer period of low revenue from oil sources, which would necessitate hard and uncomfortable choices.

The committee, in a communique issued at the end of its first meeting for the 2016 fiscal period in Abuja, observed that while the period of low oil prices, which occurred in 2005, lasted for a maximum of eight months, the current situation was expected to continue over a longer period of time.

The owner of an Abuja residence of a former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, has issued the former police boss a quit notice.

The landlord, Kundi Nigeria Limited, was said to have taken the step after Okiro allegedly refused to vacate the house at the termination of his tenancy.

All is set for the inauguration of Kogi State governor-elect, Yahaya Bello, in Lokojo, today.

The ceremony scheduled to be held at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, is expected to be graced by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and other leaders.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be performed by the Chief Justice of Kogi, Justice Nasir Ajana.

Kogi: Tribunal clears Bello for inauguration

Efforts to stop tomorrow’s inauguration of Kogi State Governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello suffered a setback yesterday when the Election Petitions Tribunal struck out the two motions seeking an interlocutory injunction to halt the ceremony.

Lawyer to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDzP) and Labour Party (LP) had filed separate exparte motions seeking for an order to stop Bello’s inauguration alleging that he was not properly elected.

For allegedly supporting the All Progressives Congress during the just-concluded governorship poll in Bayelsa State, the Seriake Dickson administration has marked no fewer than 500 civil servants for sanctions,it was learnt.

It was learnt on Monday that the affected civil servants might not receive their salaries for the months of December and January, as part of their punishment for being pro-APC in the election.

Investigations into the alleged diversion of the $2.1billion arms fund has taken a new dimension as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed Kaduna at the weekend, evicting occupants and sealing off property believed to have belonged to the lead suspect and former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and his alleged accomplices.

There is outrage in Enugu State following the discovery, Monday evening, shocking images of dead bodies buried in shallow graves along the Enugu Port-Harcourt Express Road.

The incident, which occurred at the Ugwuaji Area of the State has kept residents in tears.

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has described as malicious attempts by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), to link her with the $2.1 billion arms scandal.

Falana had written the International Criminal Court, ICC, asking it to investigate those allegedly involved in the arms deal, including the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)

Lagos State Government yesterday gave a seven- day ultimatum to residents of gated streets to open the gates or barricades leading to major roads in the state, or it may be compelled to dismantle such gates and barricades after the expiration of the ultimatum.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Olohuntele Folami, who said this at a press conference, said the gated streets were currently doing more harm than good in the state.

Kogi: Why Bello Will Outperform Previous Governors – Ugwolawo

The Kogi State governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello had declared Dr Yakubu Ugwolawo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his political mentor. In this interview with some journalists, Ogwolawo says his political son has the experience needed to deal with the complex political realities in Kogi, and that James Faleke, remains deputy governor-elect. SAM EGWU was there for LEADERSHIP Sunday

Why did you chose Yahaya Bello as your preferred candidate against others in the governorship race?

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has its sight set on new technology designed for easier collation and transmission of results.

Chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu says INEC is determined this time around to consolidate on its use of technology for election rather than experimenting.

“This Commission will not experiment. It will rather consolidate. Technology has come to stay,” Yakubu told representatives of 30 political parties at a consultative session in Abuja.

Eleven members of the House of Representatives are so aggrieved over the New House rules that they have gone to court to challenge it. In this interview with Victor Oluwasegun, Hon. Aliyu Madaki (APC Kano), who spearheaded the move, speaks on the reasons that informed their decision.

What exactly is the reason you’re in court over the new rule book of the House?

The South African Independent Police Investigative Directorate on Saturday opened investigation into the death of a Nigerian allegedly in the custody of its police.

According to eyewitnesses, the Nigerian national was allegedly suffocated to death by the police in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

This led to a massive protest by some members of the Nigerian community outside a private hospital in Kempton Park.

THESE are not the best of times for the Nigerian economy. Private and public organisations are struggling for survival amid avalanche of economic disasters. The naira is on a freefall. Portfolio investors are leaving. And the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is adopting panicky measures, while private companies are laying off staff in droves.

Some top Federal Civil Servants have been fired for allegedly extorting about N160million from desperate job seekers.

The deal was carried out in one of the parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture during the last dispensation, it was revealed yesterday.

A mother of two, Mrs. Oyinyechi Chinaka, is recuperating after she was reportedly stabbed several times by her neighbour (names withheld) in Mushin area of Lagos.

Mrs Chinaka was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, but she lost her seven months pregnancy.

Sunday, 31 January 2016

Friday, 29 January 2016

Thursday, 28 January 2016

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Sunday, 24 January 2016